About Mandarin Chinese

Chinese in one form or another, is spoken by more people around the globe than any other language. It’s also the world’s oldest language and its cultural history can be traced back over 3,500 years. Mandarin is the Chinese language with the most speakers; it is the most dominant language of the People’s Republic of China so most people will be proficient in Mandarin even if it isn’t their mother tongue. It is also the main language of Taiwan. ‘Mandarin Chinese’ is not the term the Chinese themselves use, it is rather an historical term originally used by people from outside of China to describe the language because that was what Westerners heard spoken at Chinese courts, i.e. by the Mandarins who ruled the country at the time.

Start Mandarin Chinese

LISTEN, ABSORB AND SPEAK MANDARIN CHINESE NATURALLY

This 1-hour digital taster course is for beginners who are new to the Michel Thomas Method. Learn over 20 essential words at the heart of Mandarin and how to put them together to make yourself understood. From the very beginning you will be able to construct simple phrases by listening and thinking out answers for yourself. During the course, you will join Michel Thomas Method teacher Harold Goodman, plus a native speaker, and 2 students in a live lesson. The course will take about 3-4 hours to complete and is available to stream or download via the Michel Thomas Method Library app. It is the first hour of the Foundation course.

Harold Goodman

Dr Harold Goodman, a physician and surgeon, was taught by Michel Thomas for nearly ten years. During this time Michel Thomas's goal was not to teach Dr Goodman a specific language (though he did instruct him in two of the languages he taught) but to train him to understand his method of teaching - which he then used to teach others, with great success. Dr Goodman teaches and practises in the US.

Harold Goodman

Dr Harold Goodman, a physician and surgeon, was taught by Michel Thomas for nearly ten years. During this time Michel Thomas's goal was not to teach Dr Goodman a specific language (though he did instruct him in two of the languages he taught) but to train him to understand his method of teaching - which he then used to teach others, with great success. Dr Goodman teaches and practises in the US.

Foundation Mandarin Chinese

LISTEN, ABSORB AND SPEAK MANDARIN CHINESE NATURALLY

This 8-hour digital foundation course is designed to give you a basic understanding of Mandarin Chinese in a manner that won’t intimidate or overwhelm you. You will join Michel Thomas Method teacher Harold Goodman and 2 students in a live lesson, learning a revolutionary method that will enable you to effortlessly recall tones at the right moment. Within the first hour you will be able to construct simple sentences. By the end of the course, you will have the confidence to understand and speak basic Mandarin Chinese. You will learn at your own pace, pausing and repeating where necessary, and complete the course in about 20-30 hours. This course is available to stream or download via the Michel Thomas Method Library app.

This course incorporates the Start course.

HAROLD GOODMAN

Dr Harold Goodman, a physician and surgeon, was taught by Michel Thomas for nearly ten years. During this time Michel Thomas's goal was not to teach Dr Goodman a specific language (though he did instruct him in two of the languages he taught) but to train him to understand his method of teaching - which he then used to teach others, with great success. Dr Goodman teaches and practises in the US.

HAROLD GOODMAN

Dr Harold Goodman, a physician and surgeon, was taught by Michel Thomas for nearly ten years. During this time Michel Thomas's goal was not to teach Dr Goodman a specific language (though he did instruct him in two of the languages he taught) but to train him to understand his method of teaching - which he then used to teach others, with great success. Dr Goodman teaches and practises in the US.

Intermediate Mandarin Chinese

LISTEN, ABSORB AND SPEAK MANDARIN CHINESE NATURALLY

Intermediate Mandarin Chinese is the next step in your language journey and follows on from the Michel Thomas Method Foundation Mandarin Chinese Course. The method breaks down the language into building blocks that are introduced sequentially so you can move on to ever-more-complex sentences, while a revolutionary way of learning tones links them with colours and hand gestures in an intuitive fashion. The format of the course – you join a virtual classroom with your Michel Thomas Method teacher and 2 fellow students – means your confidence will grow rapidly as you grow more comfortable with the language. This digital course will be completed in 15-20 hours and is available to stream or download via the Michel Thomas Method Library app.

Harold Goodman

Dr Harold Goodman, a physician and surgeon, was taught by Michel Thomas for nearly ten years. During this time Michel Thomas's goal was not to teach Dr Goodman a specific language (though he did instruct him in two of the languages he taught) but to train him to understand his method of teaching - which he then used to teach others, with great success. Dr Goodman teaches and practises in the US.

Harold Goodman

Dr Harold Goodman, a physician and surgeon, was taught by Michel Thomas for nearly ten years. During this time Michel Thomas's goal was not to teach Dr Goodman a specific language (though he did instruct him in two of the languages he taught) but to train him to understand his method of teaching - which he then used to teach others, with great success. Dr Goodman teaches and practises in the US.

Mandarin Chinese Vocabulary

LISTEN, ABSORB AND SPEAK MANDARIN CHINESE NATURALLY

This course is the next step for anyone who has completed Foundation and Intermediate Mandarin Chinese. The vocabulary is chosen from a relatively small number of ‘power words’ which open up an amazing range of expressions and comprehension. Using these to expand and build on the language structures you have already learnt, these words and phrases are presented in such a way that they cannot be forgotten, they are interwoven with your existing learning so they are imprinted in your knowledge bank forever. This digital course is available to stream or download via the Michel Thomas Method Library app.

Harold Goodman

Dr Harold Goodman, a physician and surgeon, was taught by Michel Thomas for nearly ten years. During this time Michel Thomas's goal was not to teach Dr Goodman a specific language (though he did instruct him in two of the languages he taught) but to train him to understand his method of teaching - which he then used to teach others, with great success. Dr Goodman teaches and practises in the US.

Harold Goodman

Dr Harold Goodman, a physician and surgeon, was taught by Michel Thomas for nearly ten years. During this time Michel Thomas's goal was not to teach Dr Goodman a specific language (though he did instruct him in two of the languages he taught) but to train him to understand his method of teaching - which he then used to teach others, with great success. Dr Goodman teaches and practises in the US.